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Naples Upends USA Today No. 1

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By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 11, 2008

PLANT CITY - The perennial state power proved too much for the confident upstart program.

Naples won its record 10{+t}{+h} state championship after defeating previously unbeaten Pembroke Pines Charter 5-2 in the Class 4A title game Saturday at Plant City Stadium.

The Jaguars (30-1), who have five players going to Division I schools, went into the game ranked No. 1 in the USA Today national poll and had allowed just 13 runs all season.

None of that mattered to Naples (28-3), which scored three runs in the top of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie and ended the season winning its final 20 games.

Naples pitcher Jaclyn Traina (21-3) gave up five hits and a walk while striking out 10 to record the win.
Miami Palmetto Wins 6A Title In 12 Innings

PLANT CITY - Miami Palmetto won its third state title after defeating Palm Beach Gardens 2-1 in 12 innings in the Class 6A championship Saturday at Plant City Stadium.

The game was the longest-inning championship in FHSAA fastpitch history.

The Panthers (26-3) also won titles in 2000 and 2003.

Courtney Ray scored the game-winning run from second base on a fielding error with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning.

"I just had a feeling that the longer it went, the better it would be for us," Palmetto coach Steve Batten said.
Palm Beach Gardens (30-5), which beat Durant in the semifinals, went up 1-0 after taking advantage of three Palmetto errors in the fourth.

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